Henderson Global Investors Public Consultation for Old River Lane, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire

Welcome to the Old River Lane Consultation Website. 

Here you can find out more about Henderson Global Investors' initial plans for Old River Lane/The Causeway, Bishop's Stortford.

Henderson Global Investors is investing £105 million in the over three and half hectare site in the north-east corner of the town centre. The site is currently occupied by East Hertfordshire Council 'Causeway' offices, East Hertfordshire District 'pay and display' car park and the Waitrose car park.

The proposed scheme includes a new 30,000 sq. ft department store at the south, on the junction of Bridge Street and Old River Lane, with the existing Waitrose store at the north end. It also has approximately 35 shops, of which 9 are smaller units designed for independent traders; two restaurants; a 6/7 screen digital cinema – which will offer high end dining and also host conferences as well as private viewings; a hotel; circa 85 residential units and 600 parking spaces.

It is expected that the scheme will create approximately 150 jobs during its construction phase that starts in 2012 and around 450 permanent jobs following its completion in 2014.

The scheme contains four main areas, which will be fully pedestrianised and contain three new public squares. It has been carefully designed to fit in with the eclectic architectural style of the town and has been designed to enhance the conservation area in which it sits as well as improve access to some of the town's heritage assets, including the Castle and the United Reformed Church which are adjacent to the site.

The impetus for the scheme is East Hertfordshire District Council's 2008 Retail and Town Centres Study which identified that 11,282 sq m net of comparison retail floor space would be required between 2008 and 2013, and that the introduction of a department store would offer the greatest assistance in retaining future expenditure in the town.

On this website you can view the initial plans that we presented during our public exhibition in June 2010.

Cameron Fraser, Fund Manager of the Henderson UK Property Fund said:

"The new scheme is designed to enhance the town and improve the facilities that are available to people in Bishop's Stortford. We are trying to create a new quarter in the town centre which encourages visitors into the town and encourages them to linger, through the creation of new public squares, restaurants and new leisure facilities such as the digital cinema."

"We began working on this project four years ago and during that time we have listened to what people have told us and tried to reflect this in the scheme which we have proposed. Examples of this include overall design scheme and the fact that we have increased parking provision by 50%, from 400 to 600 spaces. Our objective now is to get the view of as many local residents and businesses as possible so that we can incorporate their views ahead of our planning application submission in the autumn of 2010."